Volume 1 Chapter 30

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Volume 1 Chapter 30: Loneliness

When Xu Qingfan said goodbye to Jin Qinghan and returned to his cave on the back mountain, he suddenly realized that after his senior brother Yue Qingru was gone, this place he considered "home" was now empty, with just him alone.

The two-room house was bright with sunlight. Xu Qingfan was alone, and his mood turned heavy.

A home with only one person is not a true home.

The lively competition, the excited cheers and applause from the crowd, and the friendly conversation between Jin Qinghan and Bai Qingfu – these events had just happened, but Xu Qingfan felt they suddenly grew distant, as if the whole world was about to leave him behind. A strange feeling called loneliness wrapped around Xu Qingfan’s heart, tightening more and more, as if it were about to merge with his very soul. And there lay Xu Qingfan on his bed, eyes closed, savoring this sudden loneliness.

The last time he felt this thing called loneliness was twenty years ago. Xu Qingfan was only seventeen then, when a demon beast destroyed his home, killing his parents and clan. Only Xu Qingfan escaped alone in the vast Southern Wasteland. At that time, it seemed like he was the only person in the world, and it was then that Xu Qingfan first experienced loneliness.

But not long after, Xu Qingfan met Lu Huayan, and then he had a master and a senior brother. Although the master was serious and stern, and the senior brother was talkative and a bit old-fashioned, from then on, Xu Qingfan was never alone again.

Yet now, in just twenty years, both the master and the senior brother had passed away, and it seemed like Xu Qingfan was once more the only one left in the world.

Although Xu Qingfan had a friend named Jin Qinghan, Jin Qinghan had a reserved personality and spoke very little. He was a great listener but not a good conversationalist. Xu Qingfan could entrust his back to Jin Qinghan without hesitation in the most dangerous moments, but as a friend, Xu Qingfan always felt something was missing in their time together. Most importantly, Xu Qingfan was not used to showing his weak side to others; he preferred to face things alone at that moment.

"Now I am left all alone again," Xu Qingfan murmured to himself, eyes closed. The "Ruler of Wither and Flourish," deeply connected to him, seemed to sense his profound loneliness, gently glowing with a dark blue light that carried a hint of warmth, as if trying to dispel a trace of coldness in Xu Qingfan’s heart.

Loneliness returned, clearer and more intense than before.

…

The final sixteen competition will begin in three days.

During these three days, Xu Qingfan finally overcame the discomfort of being alone and gradually began to get used to the solitude.

Getting used to something can be a frightening thing. Once a person becomes accustomed to something, it is difficult to change back. Loneliness is the same.

With the help of the "Wood Spirit Pill" during these three days, Xu Qingfan finally restored his former strength. After listening to Bai Qingfu’s introduction, Xu Qingfan became very worried about whether he could regain his master Lu Huayan’s relic, the "Three Meters Green Silk," in the top sixteen competition. His opponents in this round were simply too strong. Xu Qingfan believed that he did not have the advantage in strength, skills, or tools.

Unfortunately, three days was too short a time for Xu Qingfan to make any breakthroughs in his abilities.

Of the twenty "Wood Spirit Pills" that Lu Huayan had given Xu Qingfan in the past, only eight were left. It must be said that given Xu Qingfan’s current level, the effects of the "Wood Spirit Pill," made from "Green Snake Dragon" flesh and various Spiritual Roots, were very clear. Xu Qingfan was able to advance from the early stages of fasting to the late stage of the Inedia Stage in just ten years, and the "Wood Spirit Pill" played a significant role in this.

Xu Qingfan could even sense that if he continued to take the "Wood Spirit Pill," he might break through to the Lingji Stage in just two or three years. However, relying on spiritual pills to increase strength could lead to unstable levels, which would be detrimental to his future training. Therefore, Xu Qingfan was always cautious about using the "Wood Spirit Pill." Although Lu Huayan declared that Xu Qingfan would only reach the late stage of the Lingji Stage in his lifetime, Xu Qingfan never gave up on striving to break through to the Condensed Core Stage. Even though the chance was slim, if he gave up, he wouldn’t have any chance at all.

Although taking the pills continuously could lead to unstable levels, the preciousness of the Wood Spirit Pill was evident. If it weren’t for the importance of the competition and Xu Qingfan’s significant depletion of Spirit Qi, he would never willingly use it to restore his strength.

As Xu Qingfan felt both worried and hopeful, the three days quickly passed, and the final competition for the top sixteen arrived in the blink of an eye.

On that day, the sky was clear and gentle, with white clouds under the bright sun and a vast, blue sky. A warm spring rain had fallen. Although Jiuhua Mountain had no distinction of seasons due to its protective array and always enjoyed a spring-like climate, the weather still turned warmer after the rain, and a gentle breeze made one feel lighthearted.

The competition for the top sixteen still took place in the square in front of Linghua Hall. The elders quietly sat on the high platform in front of the square, some happy that their disciples made it to the top sixteen, and others sad that their disciples were eliminated, their expressions varied.

The only difference in the square was that the sixteen stone platforms used for the elimination round were gone, replaced by a large stone platform, about thirty feet long and wide, serving as the venue for the finals of the top sixteen.

On this day, Xu Qingfan arrived at the square in front of Linghua Hall early and noticed that as the competition progressed, more and more onlookers gathered. At this moment, there were thousands of disciples waiting around the stone platform, and many elders that Xu Qingfan had not seen before were also on the high platform in front of the square. This showed the high level of attention given to the final top sixteen competition.

"Look, that’s Xu Qingfan, the fifth most popular contender in this competition."

"I think he seems very ordinary. He doesn’t really have the aura of a top expert. Is he really that amazing?"

"You know Dongfang Qingling, right? He used to be so famous, and Xu Qingfan is one of his past defeats."

"Yes, I have seen him in action. His skills are dazzling and unique, really impressive."

When Xu Qingfan arrived at the square, he heard the whispers of the crowd in the distance and couldn’t help but smile wryly. Now he had become a person of interest, but unfortunately, this was not what he wanted. If given a chance, Xu Qingfan would rather go back ten years. Although he was unknown then, under Lu Huayan’s protection, his master and senior brother were still around, and life was busy but fulfilling.

But now? What was his goal? What was his future? Xu Qingfan felt lost.

"It seems that Junior Brother Xu’s reputation inside the door is getting higher and higher." Just then, a cheerful voice came from behind Xu Qingfan.

Xu Qingfan turned around and found that Bai Qingfu had somehow appeared behind him, smiling and bowing.

"Senior Brother Bai, you are here too." Xu Qingfan gathered his emotions and quickly returned the bow.

"Yes, the competition is about to start soon. They will announce the match list in a moment. Maybe I will be unlucky and end up teamed with you, Junior Brother Xu. In that case, I hope you will be merciful," Bai Qingfu said with a smile.

"Hehe, being grouped with Senior Brother Bai is my misfortune; it should be you who is more merciful," Xu Qingfan said, partly politely and partly seriously.

Indeed, Xu Qingfan could not see through Bai Qingfu at all; he only knew that Bai Qingfu was very close to the Lingji Stage and was among the top players in this competition. But he knew nothing of Bai Qingfu’s skills or magic tools. He had a vague feeling that in a competition, Bai Qingfu was a far greater threat to him than Dongfang Qingling.

"Senior Brother Xu, you have arrived." Just as Bai Qingfu was about to say something, Jin Qinghan walked over from a distance, greeting Xu Qingfan.

When Jin Qinghan saw Bai Qingfu next to Xu Qingfan, his eyes sparkled, but he managed to give a slight nod to Bai Qingfu and said, "Senior Brother Bai."

"Hehe, Junior Brother Jin is here too." Bai Qingfu seemed very pleased that Jin Qinghan greeted him, saying with a big laugh, "Now the three of us are gathered together again."

Just then, gentle music floated in the air, and in the distance, many rays of light appeared. Sect leader Zhang Hualing, along with Supreme Protector Zhou Huahai and others, walked on clouds and slowly landed on the high platform where the elders stood.

"It’s time for us to go up," Bai Qingfu said with a smile.

After Xu Qingfan and Jin Qinghan nodded in agreement, the three of them moved through the crowd and stepped up onto the stone platform for the contest, along with the other contestants in the top sixteen.

As Xu Qingfan entered the stage, he saw Nangong Qingshan also stepping up at the same time. Their hostile glances immediately sparked a tension, but then they quickly turned away, as if they didn’t know each other at all.

Next, Xu Qingfan slightly nodded to Sheng Yushan, who had been watching him closely.

Once all sixteen contestants were standing on the stone platform, they bowed together with the watching disciples below and greeted Zhang Hualing and the elders above, saying, "We welcome sect leader and all the elders."

Zhang Hualing looked at the sixteen disciples on the platform, a look of approval in his eyes. He smiled and said, "You don’t need to be overly polite, my disciples."

After the disciples straightened up, Zhang Hualing said with a smile, "Over the past few days, I have watched your competitions, and I am very pleased. Each of you has impressive skills and deep abilities, clearly showing you have worked hard in your daily practices. With such talented and hardworking disciples, how could my Jiuhua Gate worry about its teachings not thriving? But I hope each of you will continue to strive and improve. Contribute even more to the revival of my Jiuhua Gate."

"We will follow the sect leader’s orders," the disciples below responded loudly, their voices rising high into the sky. They were clearly inspired and excited by Zhang Hualing’s words.

Hearing the answers from the students, Zhang Hualing nodded with satisfaction and then turned around to sit down. Meanwhile, the Supreme Protector Zhou Huahai stood up to announce the final sixteen competitors and their matches.

As Zhou Huahai announced, the sixteen participants on stage had different expressions. Some were happy to face a weaker opponent, while others were worried about meeting well-known favorites. There were also those who showed no change in expression, like Feng Qingtian and Jin Qinghan, for whom any opponent was the same; and Bai Qingfu, whose smile never faded, always cheerful.

"Xu Qingfan against Nangong Qingshan, in the second match."

When Zhou Huahai reached this point, Xu Qingfan’s body stirred slightly, but inside he felt neither joy nor worry; instead, he suddenly felt a sense of relief, as if a fate was about to end. He quietly thought, "Brother, I can soon take revenge for you."

Upon hearing this, a look of joy appeared in Nangong Qingshan’s eyes, as if victory was assured.